Stabilizing consumer energy demand

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: setting a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, and performing a process. The process includes: determining an actual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer based on a reward table, determining a current error, determining whether the actual power demand is adjustable in a direction that reduces the current error, reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error, and modifying the target power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error. Determining the actual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period of time in accordance with a process for measuring stability of power demand received from the utility.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to energy, and more specifically, thisinvention relates to stabilizing energy demand from a utility.

Electric utilities include companies in the electric power industrywhich engage in electrical energy generation and/or distribution ofelectrical energy, where “energy” is the capacity to do work, while“power” is the rate of producing or consuming energy. Moreover,electrical energy is distributed across electrical energy distributionsystems, or “grids”, which include interconnected networks fordelivering electricity from the utilities to consumers.

Advances in renewable energy and Internet of things (IoT) compatibledevices have led to greater levels of granularity in terms of assessingthe amount of power demanded by consumers from an energy grid. Althoughconventional analytics provide information which informs both consumersand utility companies how to forecast power consumption, the volatilityof demand from individual consumers presents a significant problem tothe conventional infrastructure of a utility company. In fact, it isgenerally more difficult for a typical electrical utility to handle avolatile energy demand than it is to handle an energy demand that ishigher than the average of the volatile energy demand but alsorelatively stable. Moreover, it is greatly undesirable for utilitycompanies to make a significant investment to upgrade their technologiesin an attempt to overcome this issue without any assurance of achievingimprovements.

SUMMARY

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes:setting a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, andperforming a process. Setting the target power demand is based on areward table for rewarding stability of power demand, and the rewardtable is received from a utility. The process includes: determining anactual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer, anddetermining a current error, the current error being the differencebetween the actual power demand and the target power demand. The processalso includes determining whether the actual power demand is adjustablein a direction that reduces the current error, reducing the currenterror by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determiningthat the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reducesthe current error, and modifying the target power demand in response todetermining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in thedirection that reduces the current error. Moreover, determining theactual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period oftime in accordance with a process for measuring stability of powerdemand received from the utility.

A computer program product, according to another embodiment, includes acomputer readable storage medium having program instructions embodiedtherewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not atransitory signal per se, the program instructions readable and/orexecutable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method.The method includes: setting, by the processor, a target power demandcorresponding to a consumer; and performing, by the processor, aprocess. Setting the target power demand is based on a reward table forrewarding stability of power demand, and the reward table is receivedfrom a utility. The process includes: determining an actual power demandpresented to the utility by the consumer, and determining a currenterror, the current error being the difference between the actual powerdemand and the target power demand. The process also includesdetermining whether the actual power demand is adjustable in a directionthat reduces the current error, reducing the current error by adjustingthe actual power demand in response to determining that the actual powerdemand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error,and modifying the target power demand in response to determining thatthe actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reducesthe current error. Moreover, determining the actual power demandincludes measuring the power demand over a period of time in accordancewith a process for measuring stability of power demand received from theutility.

A system, according to yet another embodiment, includes: a processor;and logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, orintegrated with and executable by the processor, the logic beingconfigured to: set a target power demand corresponding to a consumer,and perform a process. Setting the target power demand is based on areward table for rewarding stability of power demand, and the rewardtable is received from a utility. The process includes: determining anactual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer, anddetermining a current error, the current error being the differencebetween the actual power demand and the target power demand. The processalso includes determining whether the actual power demand is adjustablein a direction that reduces the current error, reducing the currenterror by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determiningthat the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reducesthe current error, and modifying the target power demand in response todetermining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in thedirection that reduces the current error. Moreover, determining theactual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period oftime in accordance with a process for measuring stability of powerdemand received from the utility.

Other aspects and embodiments of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken inconjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example theprinciples of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of sub-operations of the method in FIG. 1, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of sub-operations of the method in FIG. 3, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a representational diagram of a consumer location coupled toa utility, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a graph plotting power v. time for conventional power usage.

FIG. 5C is two graphs plotting power v. time for two respectiveelectrical devices, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating thegeneral principles of the present invention and is not meant to limitthe inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular featuresdescribed herein can be used in combination with other describedfeatures in each of the various possible combinations and permutations.

Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be giventheir broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied fromthe specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in theart and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc.

It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and theappended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless otherwise specified. It will be further understood thatthe terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The following description discloses several preferred embodiments ofsystems, methods and computer program products for managing andstabilizing energy demand at a consumer location. Moreover, thisstabilization of energy consumption (power demand) may be achievedwithout implementing control of individual consumer locations by autility.

In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes:setting a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, andperforming a process. Setting the target power demand is based on areward table for rewarding stability of power demand, and the rewardtable is received from a utility. The process includes: determining anactual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer, anddetermining a current error, the current error being the differencebetween the actual power demand and the target power demand. The processalso includes determining whether the actual power demand is adjustablein a direction that reduces the current error, reducing the currenterror by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determiningthat the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reducesthe current error, and modifying the target power demand in response todetermining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in thedirection that reduces the current error. Moreover, determining theactual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period oftime in accordance with a process for measuring stability of powerdemand received from the utility.

The utility may for example announce that stability would be determinedevery month by the difference between a peak power demand and an averagepower demand, corresponding to the consumer, as measured by the utility.The utility may also announce that measurements of power demandcorresponding to the consumer would be performed every two minutesduring the month, the power demand being based on measured energyconsumed within the two minute period. The utility may further announcethat a stability corresponding to a difference between peak and averagepower of less than twenty-five percent of the average would correspondto a twenty percent discount in monthly fees as a reward to theconsumer. In a preferred embodiment, a computer implemented methodincludes setting a target demand based on the predicted total energyconsumption for the next month. The preferred embodiment may alsoinclude measuring the current power demand corresponding to the consumerevery two minutes. If instead, the utility bases the reward on thedifference between peak and minimum demand, the preferred embodiment maybe substantially the same as in the example above because the embodimentis designed to minimize both differences. The preferred embodiment maychange in a corresponding way in response to the utility announcing thatstability is measured every two months, or that power demandmeasurements are taken every five minutes.

In another general embodiment, a computer program product includes acomputer readable storage medium having program instructions embodiedtherewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not atransitory signal per se, the program instructions readable and/orexecutable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method.The method includes: setting, by the processor, a target power demandcorresponding to a consumer; and performing, by the processor, aprocess. Setting the target power demand is based on a reward table forrewarding stability of power demand, and the reward table is receivedfrom a utility. The process includes: determining an actual power demandpresented to the utility by the consumer, and determining a currenterror, the current error being the difference between the actual powerdemand and the target power demand. The process also includesdetermining whether the actual power demand is adjustable in a directionthat reduces the current error, reducing the current error by adjustingthe actual power demand in response to determining that the actual powerdemand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error,and modifying the target power demand in response to determining thatthe actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reducesthe current error. Moreover, determining the actual power demandincludes measuring the power demand over a period of time in accordancewith a process for measuring stability of power demand received from theutility.

In yet another general embodiment, a system includes: a processor; andlogic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, orintegrated with and executable by the processor, the logic beingconfigured to: set a target power demand corresponding to a consumer,and perform a process. Setting the target power demand is based on areward table for rewarding stability of power demand, and the rewardtable is received from a utility. The process includes: determining anactual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer, anddetermining a current error, the current error being the differencebetween the actual power demand and the target power demand. The processalso includes determining whether the actual power demand is adjustablein a direction that reduces the current error, reducing the currenterror by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determiningthat the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reducesthe current error, and modifying the target power demand in response todetermining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in thedirection that reduces the current error. Moreover, determining theactual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period oftime in accordance with a process for measuring stability of powerdemand received from the utility.

As previously mentioned, advances in renewable energy and IoT compatibledevices have led to greater levels of granularity in terms of assessingthe amount of power demanded by consumers from an energy grid. However,the volatility of demand from individual consumers presents asignificant problem to the conventional infrastructure of utilitycompanies. In fact, it is generally more difficult for a typicalelectrical utility to handle a volatile energy demand than it is tohandle an energy demand that is higher than the average of the volatileenergy demand but also relatively stable. While IoT devices provide someinsight into energy consumption, utility companies do not have theability to estimate energy consumption for various consumers. Moreover,it is greatly undesirable for utility companies to make a significantinvestment to upgrade their technologies in an attempt to overcome thisissue without any assurance of success. It follows that the ability tostabilize the energy demands imposed by consumers on an electrical gridis desired.

In sharp contrast to the foregoing shortcomings of conventional energygrids, various embodiments included herein introduce the process ofincentivizing consumers to stabilize their energy demands over time.While minimizing the total consumer demand for energy has beenimplemented by controlling the demand schedules of multiple consumers,the ability to stabilize energy demands on the individual consumer levelhas not yet been achieved. By stabilizing energy demands imposed byconsumers on an electrical grid, a utility may thereby be able tosatisfy even larger consumer demands and/or even prevent power outagesfrom occurring. According to various approaches, this may be achieved byimplementing an electrical system which includes independent energysources, intelligent battery charging components and/or a controlledelectrically-consumed system of IoT devices, while also beingelectrically coupled to a utility in order supplement energyconsumption, e.g., as will be described in further detail below.

Now referring to FIG. 1, a flowchart of a computer-implemented method100 for managing and stabilizing the demand for power presented to autility by a consumer, is shown according to one embodiment. The method100 may be performed in accordance with the present invention in any ofthe environments depicted in FIGS. 1-2, among others, in variousembodiments. Of course, more or less operations than those specificallydescribed in FIG. 1 may be included in method 100, as would beunderstood by one of skill in the art upon reading the presentdescriptions.

Each of the steps of the method 100 may be performed by any suitablecomponent of the operating environment. For example, in variousembodiments, the method 100 may be partially or entirely performed by acontroller, a processor, etc., or some other device having one or moreprocessors therein. The processor, e.g., processing circuit(s), chip(s),and/or module(s) implemented in hardware and/or software, and preferablyhaving at least one hardware component may be utilized in any device toperform one or more steps of the method 100. Illustrative processorsinclude, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), etc., combinations thereof, or any other suitablecomputing device known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 1, method 100 includes calibrating the electricaldevices corresponding to a consumer. See optional operation 102.Moreover, operation 104 includes setting a target power demand (energyconsumption) corresponding to the consumer. According to the presentdescription, a “consumer” may include a single residential household, acommercial office building, an individual electrically powered component(e.g., a super chiller), more than one residential household, etc.,coupled to an electrical grid which includes interconnected wired and/orwireless systems for delivering electricity from the utilities toconsumers. In other words, any desired number of components powered byelectrical energy may be considered as a “consumer”, e.g., depending onthe desired embodiment.

Thus, optional operation 102 may include calibrating some or allelectrical devices plugged into electrical outlets in a residentialhousehold, while operation 104 includes setting a target power demandfor the residential household as a whole according to one embodimentwhich is in no way intended to limit the invention. It follows that insome approaches, the target power demand for a consumer may be set basedat least in part on the calibration performed on the electrical devicescorresponding to the consumer, as will soon become apparent.

As mentioned above, FIG. 1 includes a method 100 for managing andstabilizing the demand for power presented to a utility by a consumer.According to preferred approaches, stabilizing the demand includeskeeping a peak demand close to an average demand. Thus, the target powerdemand is preferably selected based on an average power demand that isanticipated for that consumer. In doing so, the target power demand maybe desirably close to the actual power demand of the consumer in realtime. According to various approaches, anticipated power demands for aconsumer may be determined differently. In some approaches, the powerdemands corresponding to a consumer may be averaged over the previousweek, where the average power demand is set as the target power demandfor that consumer. In other approaches, electrical devices (profiled IoTdevices and/or non-IoT devices) at a given consumer location maycommunicate with a central processing unit used to perform thecalibration and/or determine the target power demand. In otherapproaches, forecasted environmental conditions such as temperature,humidity, wind speeds, etc. may be used to calculate an anticipatedpower demand for a given consumer, e.g., based on previously collecteddata. In still other approaches, planned consumer events, availabilityof resources, actual (e.g., real-time) energy consumption, a number ofelectrical devices coupled to the electrical grid at a consumerlocation, etc., may be used to determine (e.g., calculate) the targetpower demand set for a given consumer.

In some approaches, the process of selecting and/or setting the targetpower demand may be based at least in part on a reward table (e.g., alookup table). The reward table may be received from the utility and mayoutline a system for rewarding stability of power demanded by a consumerand consequently placed on the utility. The reward table may be storedin memory at the consumer location, accessed by the consumer at adesignated location (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)), providedto the consumer upon request, etc. Moreover, the reward table may bepredetermined, updated over time, adjusted in real-time, replaced withan alternative system of determining selecting and/or setting a targetpower demand, etc., according to various approaches.

Method 100 further includes performing a process. See operation 106.Depending on the approach, the process may be performed more than once,e.g., periodically, upon receiving user input, preconfigured settings,depending on a result of the process, etc. It should be noted that“periodically” as used herein may include every second, several seconds,minute, two or more minutes, hour, two or more hours, day, week, month,etc., or any other desired frequency of reoccurring intervals.

Looking now to FIG. 2, exemplary sub-operations are illustrated inaccordance with one embodiment, one or more of which may be used toperform operation 106 of FIG. 1. However, it should be noted that thesub-operations of FIG. 2 are illustrated in accordance with oneembodiment which is in no way intended to limit the invention.

As shown, sub-operation 110 includes determining an actual power demandpresented to a utility by the consumer. As mentioned above, although atarget power demand is set in operation 104 of FIG. 1, the actual powerdemand corresponding to the consumer may be different depending on thesituation. The actual power demand presented to the utility by theconsumer may be determined by reading a power meter corresponding to theconsumer, calculating how much power is channeled to the consumer via anelectrical energy grid, etc. According to some approaches, a specifiedprocess for measuring the stability of power demand may be received fromthe utility. Therefore, determining the actual power demand may includemeasuring the power demand over a period of time in accordance with thespecified process of measuring the stability of power demand receivedfrom the utility. Specific examples of determining (e.g., measuring)power demand stability are presented below.

Once the actual power demand has been determined, sub-operation 112includes determining a current error associated with the consumer. Thecurrent error is the difference between the actual power demand and thetarget power demand. As previously mentioned, although a target powerdemand has been set, it is only a target. The actual power demandcorresponding to the consumer may differ from the target power demanddepending on the situation. In other words, the amount of energyactually used by a consumer may be different than an anticipated targetdepending on various factors. For example, a consumer may unexpectedlyattempt to quickly charge one or more batteries of such devices as anelectric vehicle which may place a significant and unanticipated load onthe electrical grid. As a result, the consumer's actual power demand mayrise above a corresponding target power demand, thereby increasing thecurrent error associated with the consumer.

Increases in the current error associated with a consumer areundesirable as fluctuations in actual power demands away from respectivetarget power demands result in undesirable strain on a utility. Again,it is generally more difficult for a typical electrical utility tohandle a volatile energy demand than it is to handle an energy demandthat is higher than the average of the volatile energy demand but alsorelatively stable. Thus, it may be desirable that the actual powerdemand is adjusted such that it is closer to the target power demand.Accordingly, decision 114 includes determining whether the actual powerdemand is adjustable, e.g., in a direction which would cause the currenterror to be reduced. Whether the actual power demand is adjustable maybe determined by evaluating specifications and/or settings of each ofthe electrical devices causing the actual power demand. Specificationsand/or settings of the electrical devices which may be evaluatedinclude, but are not limited to, lower/upper limits to the length ofperiod in which the electrical device may be repeatedly cycled on andoff, lower/upper limits of the percentage of on state time, a range ofalternating current frequencies which the electrical device may functionat, limits sufficient to allow the electrical device to function withoutsignificant harm to the electrical device or its purpose, etc.

As shown, the flowchart proceeds to sub-operation 116 in response todetermining that the actual power demand is adjustable, preferably in adirection that reduces the current error. Accordingly, sub-operation 116includes reducing the current error by adjusting the actual powerdemand. The direction in which the actual power demand is adjusteddepends on whether the actual power demand is above or below the targetpower demand. In other words, reducing the current error may includedecreasing the current power demand in situations where the currentpower demand is above the target power demand, or alternativelyincreasing the current power demand in situations where the currentpower demand is below the target power demand. Exemplary operationswhich may be implemented for adjusting the actual power demand aredescribed in further detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

However, the flowchart alternatively proceeds to sub-operation 118 inresponse to determining that the actual power demand is not adjustable,particularly not adjustable in a direction which would cause the currenterror to be reduced. As shown, sub-operation 118 includes modifying thetarget power demand rather than trying to adjust the actual powerdemand. In preferred approaches, the target power demand is modified(increased or decreased) in a direction towards the actual power demand.For example, if the actual power demand is higher than the target powerdemand and the actual power demand is not adjustable, the target powerdemand may be increased towards the actual power demand. Alternatively,if the actual power demand is lower than the target power demand and theactual power demand is not adjustable, the target power demand may bedecreased towards the actual power demand. It follows that in someapproaches, it may be more desirable to increase the target power demandsuch that a stable power demand may be maintained moving forward, thankeeping a lower target power demand which is less than the actual powerdemand associated with a consumer.

Looking now to FIG. 3, a flowchart of a computer-implemented method 300is shown according to one embodiment. As mentioned above, the method 300of FIG. 3 includes exemplary operations which may be implemented foradjusting the actual power demand corresponding to a consumer (e.g., seesub-operation 116 of FIG. 2). The method 300 may be performed inaccordance with the present invention in any of the environmentsdepicted in FIGS. 1-2, among others, in various embodiments. Of course,more or less operations than those specifically described in FIG. 4 maybe included in method 300, as would be understood by one of skill in theart upon reading the present descriptions.

Each of the steps of the method 300 may be performed by any suitablecomponent of the operating environment. For example, in variousembodiments, the method 300 may be partially or entirely performed by acontroller, a processor, etc., or some other device having one or moreprocessors therein. The processor, e.g., processing circuit(s), chip(s),and/or module(s) implemented in hardware and/or software, and preferablyhaving at least one hardware component may be utilized in any device toperform one or more steps of the method 300. Illustrative processorsinclude, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), etc., combinations thereof, or any other suitablecomputing device known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 3, operation 302 of method 300 includes setting anoperating target. According to preferred approaches, the operatingtarget is set equal to a value between the actual power demand and thetarget power demand. Again, one or more of the operations of method 300may be implemented to adjust the actual power demand such that it iscloser to the target power demand in order to reduce a current error.Thus, by setting the operating target equal to a value between theactual power demand and the target power demand, the operating targetmay be used to adjust the actual power demand towards the target powerdemand.

In some approaches, the operating target may be selected and/or setbased on the reward table received from the utility. For example, theoperating target may be selected and set (e.g., implemented) based on anamount of a resulting award which may be received from the utilityshould the actual power demand be adjusted to reach the operatingtarget. The operating target may also be selected and/or set based on aprocess for measuring stability of power demand received from theutility, e.g., as mentioned above. For instance, the operating targetmay be set by using the process to determine an actual power demandwhich would improve power demand stability.

Moreover, operation 304 includes performing a second process which maydesirably reduce a current error associated with a consumer. Dependingon the approach, the second process may be performed more than once,e.g., periodically, upon receiving user input, preconfigured settings,depending on a result of the second process, etc. Looking now to FIG. 4,exemplary sub-operations are illustrated in accordance with oneembodiment, one or more of which may be used to perform operation 304 ofFIG. 3. However, it should be noted that the sub-operations of FIG. 4are illustrated in accordance with one embodiment which is in no wayintended to limit the invention.

As shown, sub-operation 420 includes selecting an electrical device toadjust the operating performance of in order to effect the current powerdemand corresponding to the consumer. It follows that the selectedelectrical device is preferably associated with the consumer. Aspreviously mentioned, a “consumer” may include a single residentialhousehold, a commercial office building, an individual electricallypowered component (e.g., a super chiller), more than one residentialhousehold, etc., coupled to an electrical grid. Thus, any componentelectrically coupled to an electrical system at a consumer location maybe selected in sub-operation 420. In some approaches, the electricaldevice selected may be based on a prediction that the electrical devicewill be turned on in the near future, e.g., by a user. For example,ceiling fan may be selected in response to the temperature in a roomrising above a threshold in addition to the actual power demand beinglower than the target power demand. According to another example, theelectrical device may be selected based on a use history correspondingto a consumer. For instance, each day at 6:00 pm a consumer turns on aheater.

Decision 422 includes determining whether the actual power demand isgreater than the target power demand. According to some approaches,decision 422 may be determined by using the value of the current error.Again, the current error is the difference between the actual powerdemand and the target power demand. Thus, if the current error value hasa (e.g., is a) non-zero, negative value, it may be determined that theactual power demand is less than the target power demand. Alternatively,if the current error value is determined to have a (e.g., be a)non-zero, positive value, it may be determined that the actual powerdemand is greater than the target power demand. It should be noted that“negative” and “positive” are in no way intended to limit the invention,but rather have been presented by way of example. Rather thandetermining whether the difference between the actual power demand andthe target power demand is positive or negative, equivalentdeterminations may be made, e.g., such as whether the difference betweenthe target power demand and the actual power demand is negative orpositive respectively.

FIG. 4 proceeds to sub-operation 424 in response to determining that theactual power demand is not greater than the target power demand. There,sub-operation 424 includes increasing a rate of electrical energyconsumption corresponding to the selected device. In other words,sub-operation 424 includes increasing the amount of electrical energyconsumed by the selected device. By increasing the rate of electricalenergy consumption corresponding to the selected device, sub-operation424 preferably causes the actual power demand to increase, bringing itcloser to the target power demand. This may be achieved by charging abattery (rechargeable battery), selectively switching on sockets withdevices attached thereto, charging/discharging a super capacitor, etc.However, FIG. 4 proceeds to sub-operation 426 in response to determiningthat the actual power demand is greater than the target power demand. Insub-operation 426, the rate of electrical energy consumptioncorresponding to the selected device is decreased, preferably such thatthe actual power demand is decreased, thereby adjusting the actual powerdemand closer to the target power demand. In other words, sub-operation426 includes decreasing the amount of electrical energy consumed by theselected device.

In some approaches the type of electrical device selected insub-operation 420 may depend at least in part on the extent of thecurrent error. For instance, approaches in which the current error is asmall value (e.g., less than 10% of the target power demand) may selectan electrical device which uses a relatively low amount of energy, e.g.,such as a mechanical fan. However, approaches in which the current erroris a large value (e.g., at least greater than 10% of the target powerdemand) may select an electrical device which uses a relatively highamount of energy at least compared to a low power electrical device,e.g., such as an electrical heater. The more energy an electrical deviceuses, the greater an adjustment may be made to the actual power demandby changing the performance of the electrical device itself.

It is also preferred that the electrical device selected insub-operation 420 is able to withstand an adjustment to the operatingperformance thereof without causing damage to the electrical deviceitself, harming (e.g., disadvantaging) the consumer, negativelyeffecting other electrical devices coupled thereto, etc. For example, itmay be undesirable to select the security system of a commercial officebuilding and decrease the electrical energy consumed by the securitysystem, as doing so may compromise the security of the building. Rather,selecting a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of acommercial office building to decrease the electrical poser consumedthereby may be more desirable, as the resulting effect on the officebuilding may only be a longer wait time before a thermostat setting isreached.

Energy consumed by the electrical devices may be changed differentlydepending on the desired approach. For instance, in some approaches therate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selecteddevice may be changed (increased or decreased) by adjusting a frequencyof alternation for an alternating current supplied to the electricaldevice. According to some approaches, a nominal 60 Hz alternatingcurrent may be locally modified to deliver an alternating current with afrequency between about 55 Hz and about 65 Hz, but may be higher orlower depending on the range of frequencies a given device maysuccessfully (e.g., safely) tolerate. It follows that this approach mayonly be effective for electrical devices supplied with alternatingcurrent. In other approaches, the rate of electrical energy consumptioncorresponding to, or at least available to, the selected device may bechanged (increased or decreased) by adjusting a frequency at which theelectrical device is turned on and off. In other words, the selectedelectrical device may repeatedly be turned on and off at a frequencywhich causes the amount of energy consumed by the electrical device toincrease or decrease as desired. For example, the electrical energyconsumed by an electrical device may be changed by creating a scheduleof times when energy is available to the electrical device (e.g. thedevice may only receive energy during a set of pre-scheduled hours).Moreover, electrical energy consumption schedules for different devicesmay be adjusted to stabilize total demand in each period of time.According to an exemplary approach which is in no way intended to limitthe invention, an electrical device may only receive energy 30% of eachminute, but could be higher or lower.

Moreover, any other process of adjusting the energy consumed by anelectrical device which would be apparent to one skilled in the artafter reading the present description may be implemented. For instance,one or more of the electrical devices at a consumer location may have acorresponding energy profile which may include energy consumption in anystate, tolerance (e.g., variability of energy consumption), pattern ofusage, status of the device, status options, etc. these energy profilesmay thereby be used by a central system to appropriately allocate energyfrom and/or communicate with a source of power such as a utility, abattery, a supplemental energy source, etc. depending on the situation.

Referring still to FIG. 4, decision 428 determines whether an updatedactual power demand has reached (e.g., met or passed) the operatingtarget. Again, increasing or decreasing the energy consumed by anelectrical device corresponding to a consumer will have an effect on theactual power demand of the consumer as a whole. Thus, decision 428 maybe used to determine whether enough of an effect on the actual powerdemand has been achieved (if the operating target has been reached), orif additional steps are called for. The flowchart returns tosub-operation 420 in response to determining that the updated actualpower demand has not yet reached the operating target. Upon returning tosub-operation 420, the second process may be initiated and repeated suchthat a different electrical device is selected and adjusted accordingly.In some approaches the same electrical device may be selected again uponrepeating the second process such that the energy consumed by the repeatelectrical device may be increased or decreased further.

Alternatively, FIG. 4 proceeds to operation 430 in response todetermining that the updated actual power demand has reached (or passed)the operating target, whereby the second process is ended. It should benoted that although not shown in FIG. 4, in some approaches decision 428may repeatedly be performed in some embodiments without proceeding toany other operations. For instance, rapid periodic (e.g. every minute)measurements (e.g., computing derivatives) of the updated actual powerdemand may be made in order to ensure the error is gradually reduced,thereby preventing the method from overshooting the operating target.

Once the second process illustrated in FIG. 4 has ended, method 300 ofFIG. 3 may be performed again. As previously mentioned, the operatingtarget may be set equal to a value between the actual power demand andthe target power demand. Thus, even after the operating target has beenreached (e.g., met or passed), the new actual power demand may still beabove or below the target power demand. The operations of FIG. 3 and theprocesses of FIG. 4 may repeatedly be performed as described above untila new actual power demand is equal to (or at least sufficiently closeto) a pre-specified tolerance, e.g., a threshold. In some approaches thethreshold value may be the target power demand itself. As a result,additional electrical devices may be selected on subsequent iterationsof the processes included in FIGS. 3-4, e.g., such that adjustments tothe performance characteristics of two or more electrical devicescorresponding to a given consumer may both be implemented. Moreover,periodic corrections implemented at a long period (e.g., once a day,once every few days, once a week, etc.) may be performed by implementingmore gradual improvements, e.g., based on the measured error and/or thepre-specified tolerance, as would be appreciated by one skilled in theart after reading the present description.

Stability in consumer power demands may also be achieved by implementingsupplemental energy sources which are able to provide power in additionto the power from a utility. According to some approaches, an energystorage device may be coupled to one or more of the electrical devicesat a consumer location via a wired system, the energy storage devicebeing configured to output energy at a higher power than a low powerinput (at least compared to the higher power output) of the device,e.g., such as a battery. According to an illustrative example which isin no way intended to limit the invention, a 100 Ampere hour (Ah)battery may be charged by a 100 watt (W) input, but may be able tooutput 1200 W of power for a period of 1 hour. In other approaches,solar panel arrays, wind turbines, hydroelectric generators, gas poweredgenerators, geothermal electric generators, etc., and/or combinationsthereof may be integrated at a consumer location and electricallycoupled to a wiring system that runs throughout the consumer location.In further approaches, an energy storage device may be coupled to autility and an independent energy source which may be located locally.Accordingly, the energy storage device may be configured to acceptelectrical energy from the independent energy source and the utilityconcurrently, e.g., depending on the current amount of power demanded bythe various electrical devices of the consumer.

The supplemental energy sources integrated at a consumer location maythereby be able to provide power to any one or more of the electricaldevices at the consumer location which are also coupled to the wiringsystem. Moreover, the supplemental energy sources may also be coupled tothe utility (electrical grid) via the wiring system. Accordingly, one ormore supplemental energy sources may assist in stabilizing the powerdemand placed on the utility. This stabilization may be achieved bybalancing the number of active (powered) electrical devices, the powerdemanded by active electrical devices, the amount of power supplied bythe utility compared to the supplemental energy sources, etc. In someapproaches, the process of increasing and/or decreasing the electricalenergy consumed by one or more electrical devices corresponding to aconsumer may include adjusting an amount of electrical energy suppliedto the electrical devices by one or more supplemental energy sources,e.g., such as a solar panel array and/or an energy storage device(battery). In other approaches, reducing the current error by increasingand/or decreasing the actual power demand may include adjusting anamount of electrical energy used to charge an energy storage device(e.g., battery) included at the consumer location. This may be achievedby adjusting a rate of electrical energy supplied by one or morealternative energy sources coupled to the energy storage device, theutility, other consumers, etc., as will be described in further detailbelow. It follows that it may be preferred that electrical devices at aconsumer location are interconnected (e.g., via IoT functionality) suchthat the electrical components may share information between each other,with a central controller, with an administrator, etc. Moreover,adjustments to power demands of any one or more electrical devices, theamount of power provided by the utility, the amount of power produced byone or more supplemental energy sources, etc., may be made based on thisshared information.

Referring momentarily to FIGS. 5A-5C, a representational diagram 500 andcorresponding power graphs 520, 530 for achieving power demandstabilization is illustrated according to one embodiment. As an option,the present diagram 500 and corresponding graphs 520, 530 may beimplemented in conjunction with features from any other embodimentlisted herein, such as those described with reference to the otherFIGS., such as FIGS. 1-4. However, such embodiments and others presentedherein may be used in various applications and/or in permutations whichmay or may not be specifically described in the illustrative embodimentslisted herein. Further, the embodiments presented herein may be used inany desired environment. Thus FIGS. 5A-5C (and the other FIGS.) may bedeemed to include any possible permutation.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the representational diagram 500 includes an oven502 and a battery (supplemental energy source) 504, both of which arecoupled to a smart switch 506 via a wired system 508. Moreover, thesmart switch 506 is further coupled to a utility 510 via the wiredsystem 508. Accordingly, electrical energy may be provided to the oven502 from the utility 510 and/or the battery 504 depending on how thesmart switch 506 pulls and diverts electrical energy therefrom.

Looking to FIG. 5B, the graph 520 illustrates the standard energyconsumption of an exemplary conventional oven without any power demandstabilization implemented. The graph shows that upon being activated(being set to a given cooking temperature) at t_(A), energy consumptionspikes and an increased power demand is sustained for a long period oftime while the oven is heating up. This power demand spike is placedfully on the utility. However, after the set cooking temperature hasbeen reached at t_(B), the oven is deactivated and activated at a ratewhich significantly reduces the average power demanded by the oven fromthe utility. As previously mentioned, this fluctuation in power demandis undesirable as it puts undue strain on the utility providing thepower. Moreover, the utility is unable to anticipate spikes and drops inthe power demands of a consumer, much less a multitude of consumers.

In sharp contrast, the graph 530 in FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplaryeffect of implementing one or more of the power demand stabilizationprocesses included in FIGS. 1-4. According to the present example, a 1kW target power demand is implemented. As shown, the battery 504 placesa sustained power demand of 1 kW on the utility up until the point intime t_(A′) that the oven 502 is activated. This 1 kW of power demandedby the battery 504 may be supplied by the utility 510 and used to chargethe battery 504. Once the oven 502 is activated, the power demanded bythe battery 504 reduces to 0 kW while the power demanded by the oven 502increases such that a 1 kW average is maintained until the cookingtemperature has been reached at t_(B′). Once the cooking temperature hasbeen reached, the power demanded by the oven 502 decreases to a 600 Waverage in order to maintain the cooking temperature and the powerdemanded by the battery 504 is increased to a 400 W average in order tomaintain an overall 1 kW power demand on the utility.

It follows that powering an independent consumer location with anindependent energy source as well as an “intelligent battery” may allowthe consumer to select the amount of energy it draws at a given point intime. According to the present description, an “intelligent battery”preferably includes an electrical energy storage component which is ableto understand (e.g., independently determine) an optimal rate at whichit charges/discharges energy supplied by a source of electrical energyin order to maintain a stable power demand for the consumer location asa whole. This selection may be made, at least in part, by evaluatinghistorical usage as well as communicating with a system of profiledand/or non-profiled devices. In other words, coordinating activationand/or performance of various electrical devices, a stable (e.g., aboutconstant) power demand may desirably be achieved, thereby improving theoverall performance of the utility

According to an example, which is in no way intended to limit theinvention, if an IoT compatible electrical device at a consumer locationhas knowledge of a solar panel in addition to current/historical weatherdata and a current power demand target corresponding to the consumerlocation, the IoT compatible electrical device may be able toindependently select the amount of energy it draws. In other words, theIoT electrical device may communicate with the solar panel which, inturn, may communicate with a battery and/or supply utility to determinethe precise flow of energy at the consumer location. Moreover, thecommunication between the electrical device and the solar panels may beable to cause a change in the power the solar panel is generating, e.g.,by adjusting an orientation of the solar panels with respect to thecurrent position of the sun and/or any shading. An intelligent batterymay thereby be able to independently determine an optimal rate at whichit charges/discharges energy supplied by the solar panel and/or utilityprovider, preferably in order to maintain a stable power demand for theconsumer location as a whole. Energy demand may thereby be stabilized ona nuclear level at a given consumer location which may have IoT devices,independent energy sources having features which may be manipulated, anintelligent battery to store and/or distribute power, etc.

It should also be noted that any of the operations, sub-operationsand/or processes included in FIGS. 1-4 may be performed by a device(e.g., a computer, processor, switch, router, processing circuit, etc.)located at any point of an electrical energy distribution system(electrical grid). For instance, in some approaches method 100 and/or300 may be performed by a controller located at the consumer location,while in other approaches method 100 and/or 300 may be performed by acomputer system located at a utility headquarters. In still otherapproaches, although one or more of the operations, sub-operationsand/or sub-processes of FIGS. 1-4 may be performed by a utilityprovider, a consumer may have the ability to decide whether one or moreof the operations, sub-operations and/or sub-processes are actuallyperformed. In other words, consumers may be able to determine whetherthey desire to partake in an electrical energy demand stabilizationscheme. Moreover, a desirable improvement to consumer privacy may beachieved, particularly compared to conventional management schemes.Again, consumers may be incentivized by a utility to implement one ormore of the operations, sub-operations and/or sub-processes included inFIGS. 1-4, but may not be required to do so.

Improvements to the overall performance of a utility may be returned tothe consumer in the form of a reward, e.g., as a part of an incentiveprogram. Although an incentive program may be structured any number ofways in various approaches, according to an illustrative approach, theincentive program may be implemented by a utility company, in whichconsumer power demands are monitored over a first window of time.Moreover, a reward corresponding to the difference between a peak powerdemand and a minimum power demand (where the peak and minimum powerdemands are each measured over a second shorter window of time) realizedduring the monitoring over the first window of time, may be given to theconsumer by the utility company. The reward may be correlated with thedifference such that the smaller the difference between a peak powerdemand and a minimum power demand corresponds to a higher reward. Inother words, the incentive program may increase the reward for aconsumer the more stable their power demand is over a window of time.Specific values for the reward sent to a particular consumer may bestored in a reward table in memory.

According to another approach, a reward may be based on a correlation ofa size of the consumer's current error (the difference between targetpower demand and current power demand represented by a numerical value)to a reward table over a period of time. A larger reward may correspondto situations where a size of the consumer's current error over a periodof time is within a range, as compared to situations where a size of theconsumer's current error is outside the range for any point during theperiod of time. For example, a financial reward of $X may be received bya consumer from a power utility company in response to the consumer'scurrent power demand being within ±5% of the target power demand overthe span of a week. However, the financial reward of $X may be reducedeach time the consumer's current power demand is not within ±5% of thetarget power demand. For instance, the financial reward of $X may bereduced by $[Y×(the number of minutes the current power demand is notgreater than −5% and less than 5% of the target power demand)].

According to another approach, the reward may be based on the differencebetween a peak measured demand and an average measured demand, or anyother method for measuring stability of a demand.

It follows that in response to implementing one or more of theoperations, sub-operations and/or sub-processes included in FIGS. 1-4, aconsumer may receive a reward from the utility, e.g., as part of anincentive program.

Although consumers may be incentivized to maintain a constant powerdemand according to various embodiments described herein, in someapproaches consumers may also be incentivized to maintain a power demandthat is below a total amount for a given period of time. Thus, in someapproaches the reward received by a consumer may be increased inresponse to a consumer's current error being within a range over aperiod of time, in addition to the overall power demand for the periodof time being below a threshold.

According to an in-use example, which is in no way intended to limit theinvention, a computer-implemented method includes profiled IoTelectrical devices and/or non-IoT electrical devices at a consumerlocation communicating with a central processing unit (e.g., acontroller according to any of the approaches included herein). As aresult of the communicating, the central processing unit may receiveinformation about the devices such as anticipated power demands,operating schedules, historical use data, etc. Moreover, the centralprocessing unit may use this information to determine an amount of powerto draw from a battery coupled to a wiring system at the consumerlocation and/or a utility which is also coupled to the wiring system. Inother words, the central processing unit may begin to individually lookat various electrical devices available at consumer location todetermine a balance among the electrical devices and their respectivetolerances. In some approaches, a central processing unit may also oralternatively query other consumers which are nearby, connected, online,etc., and determine whether energy may be received from, or routed toany one or more of the other consumers depending on current powerdemands. According to one example, which is in no way intended to limitthe invention, a central controller may measure the stability of eachindividual consumer power demand in addition to evaluating power demandscorresponding to multiple consumers, e.g., to determine whethercommunities share any similar feature steps. Thus, rather thanincreasing the power demand placed on a utility, a consumer may receiveenergy from another consumer which has a current power demand greaterthan a corresponding target power demand. In another example, ratherthan unnecessarily using energy to maintain a stable current powerdemand, a consumer may offer excess power to other consumers to maintaintheir own stable current power demand.

Real-time analytics may be shared between the battery, the utility, theelectrical devices, any alternative energy sources and the centralprocessing unit. As a result, the entire system (consumer location,utility company, etc.) may be able to aggregate historical data inaddition to any other external data sources which may impact energygeneration and/or consumption. As a result, the central processing unitmay continue to learn through a feedback loop of energy generation andenergy consumption while also factoring in external aspects which mayallow for energy consumption to be accurately predicted at any giventime in order to stabilize the resulting power demand.

Thus, the central processing unit may choose a target power demand bylearning and/or predictive analytics, user settings, etc., whereby thecentral processing unit operates to maintain power demand at the chosentarget. Depending on the particular approach, targets may be set for anydesired window of time. For instance, targets may be set for a day,several days, a week, weeks, a month, etc., at a time. However, a targetpower demand is preferably set for an amount of time that is reasonablein view of the available information, e.g., such as weather forecasting.

The central processing unit may also begin to learn the optimal intervalfor targets by minimizing the interval of change, which may beaccomplished by minimizing peaks and troughs of power demand (e.g.,energy consumption) intervals. As a result, a consumer location may beable to minimize the error between actual demand and target demand bypredicting when power demand will rise above, or fall below, the target.This management in turn stabilizes the power demand placed on theutility. Moreover, when all external inputs to the system, includingpower demands from various electrical devices managed by the centralprocessing unit, are held constant, the periodically measured errorshould desirably be monotone (not increasing), and may decreaseasymptotically.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flowchart of a computer-implemented method600 is shown according to one embodiment. The method 600 may beperformed in accordance with the present invention in any of theenvironments depicted in FIGS. 1-2, among others, in variousembodiments. Of course, more or less operations than those specificallydescribed in FIG. 6 may be included in method 600, as would beunderstood by one of skill in the art upon reading the presentdescriptions.

Each of the steps of the method 600 may be performed by any suitablecomponent of the operating environment. For example, in variousembodiments, the method 600 may be partially or entirely performed by acontroller, a processor, etc., or some other device having one or moreprocessors therein. The processor, e.g., processing circuit(s), chip(s),and/or module(s) implemented in hardware and/or software, and preferablyhaving at least one hardware component may be utilized in any device toperform one or more steps of the method 600. Illustrative processorsinclude, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), etc., combinations thereof, or any other suitablecomputing device known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 6, operation 602 of method 600 includes reading (e.g.,determining) the status of IoT devices, batteries and/or alternativepower sources corresponding to (e.g., coupled to a wired and/or wirelessnetwork at) a consumer location. Various electrical componentscorresponding to a given consumer may be read according to differentapproaches depending on the capabilities of the given electricalcomponent. In some approaches, IoT compatible electrical components maycommunicate with (e.g., be read by) a processing unit performing one ormore of the operations in method 600 via a wireless connectionestablished therebetween. The processing unit (e.g., controller) maymonitor and/or stabilize a power demand corresponding to the consumer bycommunicating with actuators that may control the power demand of theelectrical components. For instance, the processing unit may use theaverage power demand as a target and charge a battery when the powerdemand fall below the average, thereby maintaining the power demandconstant by leveraging the extra power that is available, but notnecessarily needed by charging the battery rather than wasting it.

According to other approaches, a non-IoT compatible electrical componentmay communicate with the processing unit via an electrical outlet theelectrical component is coupled to, where the electrical outlet is ableto relay pertinent information regarding the electrical component (e.g.,current/historical energy consumption, setting configurations of thecomponent, etc.) to the processing unit. In still other approaches, morethan one non-IoT compatible electrical devices may simply be groupedtogether and treated as an overall power load, where the correspondingpower demand may be determined by reading a power meter corresponding tothe consumer.

In some embodiments, the status of one or more of such components may beincluded as part of a profile corresponding to the respective component.Component profiles may be stored in memory, received upon initiatingmethod 600, requested from each of the consumer components as a part ofperforming operation 602, etc. Accordingly, operation 604 includesaccessing data and making updated power demand predictions. The “data”accessed may include any information included in component profiles, orany other information corresponding to any of the IoT devices, batteriesand/or alternative power sources corresponding to the consumer location.According to various approaches, this data may include power demandhistory, component operating requirements, system settings, etc.Moreover, this data may be used to update power demand predictionscorresponding to the consumer location, e.g., according to any of theapproaches described herein.

It should also be noted that operations 602 and 604 are included in anoverarching initialization process. This, both of operations 602 and 604may be performed together (e.g., in parallel) each time method 600 isinitiated and/or re-performed.

FIG. 6 further includes determining a change in power demand presentedto a utility. See operation 606. Depending on the performance of variouselectrical components corresponding to a consumer, the power demandpresented to a utility may change over time. However, a stable powerdemand is desirable. Therefore, the change in power demand determined inoperation 606 is preferably used to adjust electrical componentperformance and/or a target power demand corresponding to the consumer.Accordingly, operation 608 includes executing changes to electricalcomponent performance in addition to allocating power to the componentsbased on their adjusted performance.

Electrical component performance may be changed according to any of theapproaches described herein. Accordingly, electrical componentperformance may be increased in response to determining in operation 606that overall power demand has decreased (e.g., below a target powerdemand). Alternatively, electrical component performance may bedecreased in response to determining in operation 606 that overall powerdemand has increased (e.g., above a target power demand). The changesmay be based on IoT profiles corresponding to each of the respectiveelectrical components. Moreover, it is preferred that the changesexecuted in operation 608 are gradual in nature, e.g., to avoid causingthe power demand to jump past a target. Accordingly, method 600 returnsto operations 602 and 604 of the initialization process, wherebystatuses of the electrical components may be re-read, and power demandpredictions may be updated. It follows that method 600 may be performedperiodically, upon receiving user input, preconfigured settings,depending on a result of the second process, etc.

As previously mentioned, a specified process for measuring the stabilityof power demand may be received from a utility. Therefore, determiningan actual power demand corresponding to a consumer location may includemeasuring the power demand over a period of time in accordance with thespecified process of measuring the stability of power demand receivedfrom the utility. According to an exemplary embodiment, which is in noway intended to limit the invention, power demand stability may bemeasured by the utility over a window of time by partitioning the windowof time into a large sequence of contiguous smaller windows of time.Power consumption over each of the smaller windows may be measured,whereby the largest of such measurements may be designated as the peakpower consumption period, while the smallest of such measurements isdesignated as the minimum power consumption period. Moreover, powerconsumption stability may be measured by calculating the differencebetween the peak and minimum measurements. Measuring power consumptionstability as a difference between a peak power consumption and a minimumpower consumption improves efficiency (e.g., increases revenue) for theutility. However, it should be noted that any other method of measuringpower consumption stability may be implemented in various embodimentsdescribed herein, e.g., as would be appreciated by one skilled in theart after reading the present description.

It follows that various embodiments included herein are able to manageand stabilize energy consumption at a consumer location withoutimplementing control of individual consumer locations by a utility. Asdescribed above, this may be achieved by interposing energy storage,periodic power-switching devices, and alternation-frequency modifyingdevices between specific energy consuming devices and the power demandpresented by the consumer to the utility. Moreover, the interposeddevices may be under the ultimate control of the consumer, the consumerbeing able to specify any device as not subject to power-switching oralternation-frequency change. Accordingly, some of the embodimentsincluded herein use device demand change prediction to stabilize totalconsumer power demand.

Although power demands may also be reduced, this improvement in energyconsumption stabilization may be achieved irrespective of power demandminimization at the consumer level. Thus, any of the approaches includedherein may be implemented to improve the stability of energy demand on anuclear level of one or more consumers, which may have IoT devices,independent energy sources having features which may be manipulated, anintelligent battery to store and/or distribute power, etc. Achievingmachine-to-machine communication as described herein introduces thepotential to improve efficiency for the allocation of energy within acomplex power distribution system, e.g., such as an electrical grid.Energy consumption is an economic area that extends to every member ofsociety, thereby providing energy companies the opportunity to implementtiered models to maximize profits, reduce energy losses and optimizegeneration. Moreover, these enhancements may be increased even furtherby incentivizing consumers to actively stabilize power demands.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a LAN or a WAN, or the connection may be madeto an external computer (for example, through the Internet using anInternet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitryincluding, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmablegate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Moreover, a system according to various embodiments may include aprocessor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor,the logic being configured to perform one or more of the process stepsrecited herein. The processor may be of any configuration as describedherein, such as a discrete processor or a processing circuit thatincludes many components such as processing hardware, memory, I/Ointerfaces, etc. By integrated with, what is meant is that the processorhas logic embedded therewith as hardware logic, such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a FPGA, etc. By executable by theprocessor, what is meant is that the logic is hardware logic; softwarelogic such as firmware, part of an operating system, part of anapplication program; etc., or some combination of hardware and softwarelogic that is accessible by the processor and configured to cause theprocessor to perform some functionality upon execution by the processor.Software logic may be stored on local and/or remote memory of any memorytype, as known in the art. Any processor known in the art may be used,such as a software processor module and/or a hardware processor such asan ASIC, a FPGA, a central processing unit (CPU), an integrated circuit(IC), a graphics processing unit (GPU), etc.

It will be clear that the various features of the foregoing systemsand/or methodologies may be combined in any way, creating a plurality ofcombinations from the descriptions presented above.

It will be further appreciated that embodiments of the present inventionmay be provided in the form of a service deployed on behalf of acustomer to offer service on demand.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment shouldnot be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:setting a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, whereinsetting the target power demand is based on a reward table for rewardingstability of power demand, wherein the reward table is received from autility; performing a process, the process including: determining anactual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer, whereindetermining the actual power demand includes measuring the power demandover a period of time in accordance with a process for measuringstability of power demand received from the utility; determining acurrent error, wherein the current error is a difference between theactual power demand and the target power demand; determining whether theactual power demand is adjustable in a direction that reduces thecurrent error; reducing the current error by adjusting the actual powerdemand in response to determining that the actual power demand isadjustable in the direction that reduces the current error; andmodifying the target power demand in response to determining that theactual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reduces thecurrent error.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, whereinreducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demandincludes: setting an operating target based on the reward table and theprocess for measuring stability of power demand, wherein the operatingtarget is a value between the actual power demand and the target powerdemand; performing a second process, the second process including:selecting an electrical device corresponding to the consumer; increasinga rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selecteddevice in response to determining that the current error has a negativevalue; decreasing the rate of electrical energy consumptioncorresponding to the selected device in response to determining that thecurrent error has a positive value; determining whether an updatedactual power demand has reached the operating target; and repeating thesecond process in response to determining that the updated actual powerdemand has not reached the operating target; and ending the secondprocess in response to determining that the updated actual power demandhas reached the operating target.
 3. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 2, wherein the rate of electrical energy consumption correspondingto the selected device is changed by adjusting a frequency at which theelectrical device is turned on and off.
 4. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 2, wherein the rate of electrical energy consumptioncorresponding to the selected device is changed by adjusting a frequencyof alternation for an alternating current supplied to the electricaldevice.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein an energystorage device is coupled to the selected device, wherein the energystorage device has a low power input and is configured to output energyat a higher power than the low power input.
 6. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 5, wherein increasing and/or decreasing the rate ofelectrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected deviceincludes adjusting an amount of electrical energy supplied to theselected device by the energy storage device.
 7. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein reducing the currenterror by adjusting the actual power demand includes adjusting a rate ofelectrical energy supplied to charge the energy storage device.
 8. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the energy storagedevice includes a battery.
 9. The computer-implemented method of claim5, wherein the energy storage device is coupled to the utility and anindependent energy source located locally, wherein the energy storagedevice is configured to accept electrical energy from the independentenergy source and the utility concurrently.
 10. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, comprising receiving a reward based on a correlationof a size of the current error over a period of time to a reward table.11. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storagemedium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein thecomputer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, theprogram instructions readable and/or executable by a processor to causethe processor to perform a method comprising: setting, by the processor,a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, wherein setting thetarget power demand is based on a reward table for rewarding stabilityof power demand, wherein the reward table is received from a utility;performing, by the processor, a process, the process including:determining an actual power demand presented to the utility by theconsumer, wherein determining the actual power demand includes measuringthe power demand over a period of time in accordance with a process formeasuring stability of power demand received from the utility;determining a current error, wherein the current error is a differencebetween the actual power demand and the target power demand; determiningwhether the actual power demand is adjustable in a direction thatreduces the current error; reducing the current error by adjusting theactual power demand in response to determining that the actual powerdemand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error;and modifying the target power demand in response to determining thatthe actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reducesthe current error.
 12. The computer program product of claim 11, theprogram instructions readable and/or executable by the processor tocause the processor to perform the method comprising: setting, by theprocessor, an operating target based on the reward table and the processfor measuring stability of power demand, wherein the operating target isa value between the actual power demand and the target power demand;performing, by the processor, a second process, the second processincluding: selecting an electrical device corresponding to the consumer;increasing a rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to theselected device in response to determining that the current error has anegative value; decreasing the rate of electrical energy consumptioncorresponding to the selected device in response to determining that thecurrent error has a positive value; determining whether an updatedactual power demand has reached the operating target; and repeating, bythe processor, the second process in response to determining that theupdated actual power demand has not reached the operating target; andending, by the processor, the second process in response to determiningthat the updated actual power demand has reached the operating target.13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the rate ofelectrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device ischanged by adjusting a frequency at which the electrical device isturned on and off, and/or by adjusting a frequency of alteration for analternating current supplied to the electrical device.
 14. The computerprogram product of claim 12, wherein an energy storage device is coupledto the selected device, wherein the energy storage device has a lowpower input and is configured to output energy at a higher power thanthe low power input.
 15. The computer program product of claim 14,wherein increasing and/or decreasing the rate of electrical energyconsumption corresponding to the selected device includes adjusting anamount of electrical energy supplied to the selected device by theenergy storage device.
 16. The computer program product of claim 14,wherein reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demandincludes adjusting a rate of electrical energy supplied to charge theenergy storage device.
 17. The computer program product of claim 14,wherein the energy storage device includes a battery.
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 14, wherein the energy storage device iscoupled to the utility and an independent energy source located locally,wherein the energy storage device is configured to accept electricalenergy from the independent energy source and the utility concurrently.19. The computer program product of claim 11, comprising receiving areward based on a correlation of a size of the current error over aperiod of time to a reward table.
 20. A system, comprising: a processor;and logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, orintegrated with and executable by the processor, the logic beingconfigured to: set a target power demand corresponding to a consumer,wherein setting the target power demand is based on a reward table forrewarding stability of power demand, wherein the reward table isreceived from a utility; perform a process, the process including:determining an actual power demand presented to the utility by theconsumer, wherein determining the actual power demand includes measuringthe power demand over a period of time in accordance with a process formeasuring stability of power demand received from the utility;determining a current error, wherein the current error is a differencebetween the actual power demand and the target power demand; determiningwhether the actual power demand is adjustable in a direction thatreduces the current error; reducing the current error by adjusting theactual power demand in response to determining that the actual powerdemand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error;and modifying the target power demand in response to determining thatthe actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reducesthe current error.